Messages

Thought Adam done really well to put penalty away after the delay tactics. In saying that i have to admit i thought the penalty decision was harsh but we'll take it! 

Hopefully Carroll can get a regular run in the team now and kick on in the scoring stakes.

Points dropped,not good enough. Norwich to their credit battled well i thought.
Suarez would have had a hat-trick on another night. Carroll's header miss was shocking! 

Still like to see him playing and suarez playing off him.

Not a big fan of Downing, end product not his strongest suit IMHO

Cant see the logic in playing Suarez myself, especially after his exploits in Copa America.
Perfect opportunity to rest up. Hopefully have it wrapped up early and he can get called ashore early doors.

The future looks grim for Joe Cole who isnt even on the bench unless injured? 

Only getting round to getting on now, but just wanted to give the upmost praise and credit to everyone involved in this very worthy cause. A fantastic day and night was had by all.
Really, really enjoyed it and great to get catching up with a lot of old friends.

Take a bow, well done! 

Seen Ricey yesterday in Omagh getting a new pair of football boots so he must be confident of getting some game time 

And no this is not a wind up!

The conditions make it all the more intriguing, a slip from a defender at the wrong time and lethal finishers on both sides to punish. Then again we have seen nothing but slipping on the surface all year regardless of the weather!!!

If I was Gilroy i would play Connolly right in on the edge of the square, great potential but the game can pass him by as he drifts out the field for long periods.

Alan Brogan would run the legs off Gormley.
He'd be better used as a firefighter helping out the FB line.

Agreed he would run the legs off him surely Jinxy but as i say the tyrone defence will be well protected with men filtering back all of the time and crowding out the two Brogan's.That's what i reckon will happen. Gormley is definitely not the paciest but has a real knack of snuffing big players out in big games. Paul Finlay & colm McFadden can testify to this in this year's championship.

Free taking will be crucial. peter harte has been very solid since but when the pressure was really on against donegal he fluffed his lines, be interesting to see if he can deliver in a full croker.

My prediction; Tyrone 1;15 Dublin 1;13

Some fascinating duals in prospect; i would hazard a guess at the following but could be wrong.....

Gormley to track Alan Brogan
Joe McMahon on Bernard
Justin on D.Connolly who can roam out the field at times

Cant see O'Gara starting.

Bastick will be out to counter Sean Cavanagh i imagine.

Tyrone defenders will be pretty well protected and not isolated inside.

Tyrone bench looks very strong regardless of who starts or does not.
Tyrone by two in a thriller

Was very glad to see collections being made at the Ulster final, everyone would agree that this is a very worthy cause and if it was one of their own club players they would all reel in and support.
Things like this rowing in to help one of your own is what makes the GAA great in my opinion.

Hope the lad makes a full recovery.

Anticipating a very tight game with two well matched sides. From a derry prospective it's been refreshing to see a bit of fight in the team this year, that is the Brennan factor. in years gone by when things were nt going their way on even trailing by a couple of points the team's body language was terrible,as if they were trailing by ten points. Skinner missing out is very unfortunate but for this particular game guessing Donegal would really have got numbers around him,it opens the door for someone else to step up.
Space will be at a premium but the accuracy of gilligan,lynch, kielt and probably o'Boyle could keep derry ticking over.

I'd like to say derry funnel a few men back as against armagh it was heart and mouth stuff everytime the ball went in to Clarke and McDonnell. i think they will. Sean leo or Gerard are the men to follow mark mc hugh all over the pitch, and put him on the back foot when they get the chance, both comfortable ball carriers and can push on.i'd go for Sean Leo.

PJ McCloskey is a very capable player for derry around the middle and could well be used as men tire.

Very close, but providing Derry get a decent supply at midfield i think they will squeeze through.
Derry 1.14 Donegal 1.12

Here's hoping for no puke football(or to a premium at least), may the best team win! 

Very disappointing news to hear about Eoin. Be a major loss to Derry. What a shame it has been this year to lose the two Bradley's for the upcoming ulster final. Hope it does not deflate the panel too much but I'm sure Brennan will use this as an extra motivation for them to get him his ulster medal. His talent deserves this, albeit if sometimes he may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Will curiously await the full diagnosis.
And as mentioned, he was all the talk leading up to the game and donegal will certainly has devised something to specifically counter him. It's time for the other derry players to step up. There is a bit of competition, the likes of Emmett Mcguckin, Declan Mullan, Ciaran McGoldrick, Marty Donaghy, Caolan O'Boyle
Bateson and sean leo are versatile so all hope is not lost.
James Kielt will probably be on free's duty from the right

Bitter pill to swallow from a derry prospective but all men reeling in can still get over the line.

McBride is derry's best man-marker so it's a given he will pick up J Clarke i think.
McCloy probably best suited to Padden when he plays in if he does at all. Armagh will try and pull McCloy out the field i reckon.
Ideally would have put Ger back on McDonnell.

Doubt Derry will be going gung-hoo approach as some protection must be given to the full back line against quality inside men.
M O'Rourke will have to be pressed tight and not given time to kick pass quality ball into the FF line like he did to great effect against Down.

Declan Mullan could be good to spring from the bench, searing pace to put armagh's half back line on the back foot right away.

Expect derry to put up a good fight but armagh's experience may see them through by two.....

Hat's off to Donnelly's Hollow, fair play.

Was at a funeral and didnt see the tips until after the first race so was kind of glad Fury was a N/R! 

Had Lolly For Dolly e/w and had word for Best Terms at very short notice, backed it at 9's on P Power Insurebet Top 3. 

Await The Dawn must be friday is it?

The gay fella doing the best dressed feature on Ascot is some character!!

McCoy really earned his corn on jaunty Journey last night @ Aintree 8.10

Did anyone else see this ride?

Outstanding, the champion never knows when he is beaten

Quevega - a money-making machine.
Oozes class and also showed a fair bit of grit up at the last after her mistake when Katie nearly upstaged bigger brother!

Missed out on Kerb Appeal after backing him on Easter Monday down at Fairyhouse, 14's a right price

Only fly in the ointment, excuse the pun for Hurricane Fly 2moro is the presence of Binocular for me. Never know what you are going to get from him and if he is tuned up for the race. At his best could give Hurricane a run for his money but still think it will take all the beating, 8/13 at present on P.P

Any fancies lads?

Right lad heading over to the big one next week and wondering (from anyone who has been there of course) what is the dress code for the actual races. A few of the lads are talking suits but we are not in with the prawn sandwich brigade so i was going to go a little more casual. What the opinions?

Winsamsoon, I've been before and it would depend on what days you are going and what enclosure?
ladies day on the friday every man would be in the suits. on the saturday, still get a fair whack in the suits but seems to be a wee bit more casual on the saturday.
In saying that, i dont think you can be turned away from entering due to "casuals" on any day.

Will definitely be a great experience for you!